Food handling apparatus



March 2, 1937. D. A. MEEKER ET AL FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS lFiled De. 15, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR ci ATTORNE March 2, 1937. D. A. MEEKER ET AL FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. l5, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORi @MQW BY 'Ill lli!!! ATTORNEY March 2, 1937. D. A. MEEKER ET AL FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS ATTORNEY D. A. MEEKER ET AL FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS March 2, 1937.

Filed Dec. l5, 1951 4 ShOOtS-Sheet 4 INVENTOR y BY 7% C j WWIf/Q' )n/f ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS David A. Meeker and John C.

Slager, Troy, Ohio,

Application December 15, 1931, Serial No. 581,188

9 Claims.

This invention relates to food handling apparatus and more particularly to a motor driven food cutter.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a motor driven food cutter which is of simple, compact, and economical construction, is easy and safe to operate and is effective in operation, and is readily maintained in a sanitary condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a food cutter of this character, in which an effective proportioning ofbowl, knife and knife shaft is provided, together with a close spacing of the knife shaft above the rim of the bowl, and which at the same time provides for the easy and rapid removal of the bowl without disturbing or moving the knife shaft.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character provided with an interlocking mechanism in which the knives are prevented from being driven by the motor except when the cover is closed, and the cover is prevented from being raised to expose the knives except when the motor is stopped, and in which the parts of the interlocking mechanism are effectively enclosed to positively prevent tampering therewith and to maintain them in a sanitary condition.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a machine having a knife shaft projecting over the bowl for operation upon food stuff therein, in which the bearing support of the knife shaft is removed from above the bowl to prevent contamination of food stuffs with bearing lubricant.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a machine of this character of a simple drive for the bowl which is effective and quiet in operation, and is automatically maintained in proper operating adjustment. y Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings, which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention,-.

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a motor driven food cutter constructed in accordance with this invention, certain of the parts being broken away or in section for clearness of illustration;

Fig, 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the machine with the cover in open position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the knife cleaner and is taken as indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section of the latch sleeve;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in section of the-latch actuated member;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the cover latch;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the interlock mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a sectional View of the driven pulley taken on the line of the shaft axis, and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the driving pulley taken on the line of shaft axis.

In the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, the numeral I0 designates the machine base upon which a motor is mounted; the motor housing being designated by the numeral II. The motor housing is provided With bearings I2 and I3 for the support of a horizontally extending shaft Ill. This shaft serves not only to carry the motor armature I5, but in addition has an integrally 'extending portion I6 upon the end of which the cutting knives I'I are attached. The knives II are mounted as a unit so that they may be readily detached when desired. As shown, the knives I'I are carried on a sleeve I8 and are held thereon by a nut I9; a `25 suitable spacing collar 20 being provided to position the knives a proper distance apart. This assembled knife unit is received upon the end of the shaft extension I6 and is held thereon by provision of a nut 22; driving forces being trans mitted by interengagement of the shaft I6 and collar I8 as indicated at 23.

Food to be treated in the machine is placed Within a bowl 25 that is so positioned upon the machine base I0 that the knives Il traverse a4 path through the bowl. The bowl has an upstanding central portion which with the rim portion forms a ring-like trough of segmental cross section; the cross-sectional shape conforming to the sWeep of the knives II. all of the food contained within the bowl may be treated by the knives, the bowl is supported upon a rotatable member 26 that is driven from the motor II. The knives rotate on a horizontal axis and the bowl rotates on a vertical axis to thus continually present different portions of the contained food to action of the knives. The bowl preferably travels at a relatively slow rate as compared to the speed of rotation of the knives; a suitable proportioning of knife and` bowl rotation being in the ratio of 1700 R. P. M. for the knives and 25 R. P. M. for the bowl.

The bottom of the bowl has formed thereon a depending ring Z'I which rests upon the disklike surface 28 of the supporting member 2B. The bowl ring 2l is enclosed by an upstanding annular flange 29 of the supporting member 26. The ring 21 is extended at equally spaced points, shown to be three in number, to form lugs 3U, and the flange 29 is extended also at three equal- In order that,

`worrn'31 that is fixed to shaft 38.

.for the motorshaft bearing I 3 as well.

rwith this shoulder. `between the bearing I3 and the washer 41. -tightening the pulley part 46 against the washer ly spaced points to form lugs 3|, the lugs 3| overlying the lugs 38 in operating position of the bowl. The circumferential extent of the lugs and their intermediate spacing is such that the intermediate space between two adjacent lugs is materially greater than the circumferential length of each lug. When placing the bowl on its supporting member, the bowl is first turned so that the lugs 38 are received within the intermediate spaces or clearance areas 32 and, after entrance therein, the bowl is turned so that the lugs 3l) are brought beneath the lugs 3| so as to prevent upward removal of the bowl.' Mounted in the plate 28 immediately adjacent one of the lugs 3| is an upstanding stop member 33, which Amay bea' set -screw threaded in a drilled hole in the plate 28 in position to engage one of the lugs Y3|) when the bowl is rotated in one direction so -as to stop the rotation of the bowl in proper operating position with the lugs 3| superimposed on the lugs 36. This stop 33 also forms a driving engagement between the bowl ring 21 and the plate 28, so that the bowl is positively Vdriven and rotated when the member 26 is 'rotated by the motor drive. When the bowl is rotated relatively to the plate 28 in the opposite direction, another lug 30 eventually engages the l--stop 33 when the lugs 36 are intermediate the :lugs 3|, so that the bowl can be readily removed from its mounting.

The bowl supporting member 26 has an extending shaft 34 which is carried in a bearing 35 formed as a boss on the base I0. A worm gear 36 is attached to the shaft 34 and meshes with a The shaft 38 is supported in the base I0 upon bearings 39, and at its inner end carries a driven pulley 48. The pulley 40 isv driven from the motor shaft I4 by a belt 4I which runs over a pulley 42 carried on 510v the shaft I4.

The pulleys 40 and 42 are shaped to receive a V-belt and are constructed so that the belt may be readily applied and, when in use, will be automaticallymaintained in proper operating adjustment even though the pulley shafts are maintained in fixed spaced relationship. As shown, the pulley 42 comprises two parts, the adjacent faces of which are conically formed, as indicated lat. 44, to provide a driving V for reception of the belt. One of the pulley parts, indicated by the numeral 45, has a loose fit on the shaft I4, while the other part, indicated by the numeral 4 6, is threadedly received upon the shaft. VA spacing washer 41 of desired width is positioned vbetween the members 45 and 46. The arrangement of the motor parts is such that by tightening the lpulley part 46 upon the threaded shaft clamping engagement isprovided for the pulley parts and Asr'shown, the shaft I4 is shouldered at V48 and the inner race of the bearing I3 is positioned in contact The pulley part 45 stands After 41 to hold the assembly rigidly in place, a lock nut A49 is drawn up against the pulley part 46 so that the clamped assembly may be maintained inservice without danger -of loosening. The two part pulley 42 permits easy access to the belt 4I should replacement be necessary as the lock: nut 49 and pulley part 46, upon being removed from .the shaft I6, provide sufficient space for passage of the belt whereby it may be removed through the end ofthe motor housing.

ready removal of the bowl 25.

shaft while permitting it to travel axially of theE shaft 38. The pulley part is urged toward ther part 53 by provision of a spring 68, one end of which bears against the part 55 while the other end bears upon a collar 6| carried by the shaftf A A sleeve 62 is pro' vided where the pin 51 enters the pulleypart 55,-

38 adjacent the bearing 39.

and a sleeve 63 serves as a bearing for the part 55- on the shaft 38. These sleeves are made of some suitable resilient material, very satisfactory results being secured with a rubber sleevej 62 and a bakelite sleeve 63. By provision of the two part pulley 40, in which the pulley parts are constantly urged toward one another by the spring 60, proper operating adjustment for the belt 4I is maintained over a long period of use because stretching in the belt as` a result of continued use permits the spring to act and thus force the pulley parts toward one another to in effectincrease the pulley diameter and thus maintain the belt taut. Further adjustment of the belt may be obtained by variation of the thickness of the spacing washer 41 of the pulley 42V.

The ybowl drive, comprising the pulleys 40 and 42 and the belt 4I, and the shaft 38 and gears 36 and 31, is enclosed Within the motor housing and base so that the complete bowl drive is Yeffectively guarded tol thus prevent possible injury to the machine operator. This complete enclosure of the drive parts also serves to effectively prevent tampering with this portion of the machine.

The shaft I4 and its extension I6 receive their sole support from the motor bearings I2 and I3.

These bearings are within the confines of the. motor housing and are thus positioned outide of that area defined by a vertical projection of the rim o-f the food receiving bowl 25. Such a construction eliminates any possibility of contamination of the food within the bowl by a drip of `lubricant from any part of the shaft supporting structure as this structure is entirely removed from the bowl. Adequate support for the knives I1 is provided by the sturdy shaft extension I6 which is shown tapered and is of sufficient size to withstand the loads imposed upon it bythe knives even though supported at points remote from the knives.

The machine is constructed so as to provide for As mentioned above, the bowl is readily removable from its supporting member 26 by a single turning of the bowl an amount suicient to release the lugs 30, or until engaged by the stop 33, whereupon it may be tilted soas to clear the knives and may be thus withdrawn from beneath the shaft I6 without disturbing the motor and the motor shaft.

The proportioning of the parts, including the diameter of the circumscribing circle of the lugs 30, together with the extent of offset of the shaft I6 from the center o-f the bowl, and the clearance of the shaft I6 from the rim of the bowl, contributes to provide this described removability neath the knife shaft I6 without movement of this knife shaft. A number of factors are taken into consideration. First, the knife shaft should have its axis substantially in the center of the segmental trough of the bowl at the location of the knives (see Fig. 3), so that the cutting edges of these knives operate immediately adjacent the surface of this trough of the bowl. Secondly, it is found that the power required of the motor to drive the knives is a function of the diameter of the knives, increasing materially as the diameter of the knives is increased. For reasons of economy, it is therefore desirable that the diameter of the knives be as small as is compatible with the size and cutting requirements of the machine. This is accomplished by positioning the knife shaft close to the rim of the bowl, so that there is only a small clearance between the lower edge of the shaft and the rim of the bowl. This in turn permits only a small lifting action of the entire bowl before it contacts with the knife shaft, such as. to render impossible the direct lifting of the bowl to remo-ve all the lugs .30 above the plane of the upper surface of the supporting member 26 and the lugs 3l. This is overcome in accordance with the present invention by the provision of the lug ring of a predetermined diameter, such that direct upward lift of the bowl is unnecessary but rather the bowl can be tilted upwardly at Vone side, generally that opposite the shaft I6, so that the rear portion of the ring 21 and the rearward lugs 30 rock on the upper surface of the plate 28 similar to the action of a b-all and socket joint. This enables the forward edge of the bowl to be tilted sufficiently to lift the forward edge of the ring 21 and lugs 30 above the upper edge of the supporting member 26, whereupon the entire bowl can then be drawn or slid forwardly, the rear edge of the ring 21 sliding over the surface of plate 28, until finally the entire bowl can be readily moved sidewise from its mounting and from beneath the knife sh-aft I6. It is found that a certain definite diameter range of the lug ring 21 and the cooperating member 26, depending upon the diameter of the bowl and the clearance of shaft I6 above the rim of the bowl, gives this tilting removal. If the diameter of the lug ring is too small, insufficient rocking movement of the ring 21 on plate 28 is allowed to lift the forward edge of the ring 21 and lugs over the top of the adjacent edge of member 26. If the diameter of the lug ring is too large, such as to extend materially beyond the vvertical center line of shaft I6 as shown in Fig. 3, then the tilting about the rear edge of the ring effects such upward movement of the rim of the bowl directly beneath the knife shaft as will cause contact of the rim of the bowl with the knife shaft, Abefore the forward edge of the ring Vclears the cooperating edge of the supporting member. By way of example, with a bowl diameter of 141/2 inches, and a clearance of the shaft I 6 from the rim of the bowl of about 1/8 o-f an inch, very satisfactory results have been secured with a lug ring of the order of 61/2 inches in diameter. In the construction shown, the shaft I6 extends only part way across the bowl and this further facilitates the easy tilting removal of the bowl; but this construction is also adaptable to machines of this character in which the shaft extends completely across one side of the bowl and provides the easy tilting removal of the bowl without disturbing or moving the knife Shaft. If the knives are turned so that they stand horizontally the bowl may be removed by this tilting movement without removing the knives. This avoids the necessity of removing the food stuffs from the bowl prior to withdrawal of the bowl from the machine, and contributes materially to the convenience and sanitation of the machine.

A cover 65'is provided for the knives I1 so that during use of the machine the knives may be effectively enclosed to prevent injury to the operator. The cover serves also as a closure to prevent scattering of food under treatment. As shown, the cover 65 comprises a flat plate portion 66 which overlies that portion of the bowl adjacent the knives, and a dome shaped portion 61 within which the knives rotate. The cover 65 is hinged to the motor housing and is movable on this hinge axis from a position of closure over the bowl to a removed position in which the cover stands away from the bowl. As shown, the hinge comprises a pin 10 which is held by a set screw" 1I in a projection 12 on the motor housing. The cover 65 has a yoke extension comprising spaced arms 13 which overlie the ends of the pin 18. Adjacent sides of the arms 13 have affixed to them collars 1li which are slotted at 15 to receive` the pin 10. Bosses 12 on the projection 12 lie closely adjacent the periphery of each collar 14 and serve to retain the cover 65 in place upon the hinge pin 18 in all positions except that inl which the cover has been swung upwardly to a;r vertical position as indicated in Fig. 4. In the position of Fig. 4 the cover may be withdrawn from the machine by lifting it upwardly so that the pin 1U passes through the slots 15 of theM collars 14 without interference from the bosses l' 12'. When the cover is swung somewhat beyond the vertical, a stop 16 on the cover contacts with a stop 11 on the motor housing to limit this movement, the force of gravity hold the cover in its raised position.

The cover hinge axis is horizontal and is perpendicularly related to the axis of the shaft I4 so that when swinging the cover to open position the cover moves to a position over the motor and,v

is thus retained within the general lateral con` fines of the machine. These machines are frequently installed in cramped quarters and it is therefore of decided advantage to provide for cover removal in a manner that permits the machine to be effectively operated within a small amount of space.

The cover is provided with a latch 88 so that it may be retained in closed position. As shown, the latch comprises a stem 8I having upon one" end a handle 82 for actuation by the operator,l and on the other end a cross-bar 83. The latch 86 is carried on the cover within a stationary sleeve 84 having a portion 85 which rotatably carries the stem 8| of the latch. The body of the sleeve 84 is bored out to a diameter, as indicated at 86, to slidably receive the cylindrical part 81 of the latch, and the lower end of the sleeve 84 is notched at 88 to receive the cross bar 83 of the latch. The latch is urged upwardly with respect to the sleeve by a spring 89 which serves to retain the bar 33 in the notch 88.

Latching engagement in the closed position ci the cover is provided by a member attached to the base I6 within which the latch cross bar 83 is received and with which it may engage. As shown, the latch receiving member is in the form of a sleeve 96 which is carried upon a hollow member 9| fixed to the base i6. The upper end of the latch receiving member 98 is closed except for a slot 92 shaped similarly to and of such size then acting to u that the latch-cross :bar 83 may pass through.

The cross bar receiving notch 880i the sleeve 84 and the slot 02 are coordinated as to position so that when the cross-bar 83 isretained in the notch 88 it will be aligned for passage through the slot 92; this being the unlatched position of the cross bar. To latch the cover in closed position the operator first closes the cover and then pushes down on the handle 82 against the spring 89 to move the cross-bar 83 through the slot 92 whereupon it may be turned crosswise to the slot 92, so that the cover'is then held in place. Upon moving the latch to unlatched position the spring causes it to be Withdrawn through the slot and to enter the notch'88 where it is heldin proper position for reentrance through the slot 92.

`The knives I'I are maintained free of vfood by provision of a knife cleaner or comb which comprises a plate 95 havingspaced slots 96' for passage of the knives. As shown, the comb plate has a circular opening 9'I and has also a downturned flange 98. VThe opening 91 is of such size that it isclosely received upon the exterior of the latch receiving member which carries a ledge 99 so related that it closely engages the comb flange 98 when in assembled position thereon. In closed position the cover bears on the comb and thus serves to maintain it in proper operating position. Upon removing the cover the comb is retained in position by its inter-engagement with the member 90 and ledge 99rand" may be readily removed by merely liftingit from such engagement.

Control of the motor is afforded through a switch |00 which is shown mounted within the machine base. The switch is of the knife type and comprises one or more xed contacts |0| which are adapted to receive a correspondin number of movable blade contacts |02. The construction o-f the fixed contacts IDI is such that they oifer frictional resistance to removal of the blade contacts. A'switch operating handle |04 is positioned on the exterior of the machine within convenient reach of the operator. This handle is xed to a rotatable shaft |05 that extends through the machine. An arm |06, xed to the shaft |05, has spacedl projecting lugs |0'I through which a pin |08 passes. The blades |02 of the switch are inter-connected by block |09 for simultaneous movement. The block has attached to it a cross pin IIO. The pins |08 and |I0 are operably connected by parallel links ||2 so that actuation of the handle |04 will result in operation of the switch. As shown, the links are pivotally connected to the pin IIO and have a slotted connection with the pin |08 as indicated at l I3. A spring I I4 is connected into the switch linkage; one end engaging the pin |08 while the opposite end engages a pin |I5 extending between the links ||2.

The slotted connection I I3 between the links I I2 and the pin |08 permits lost motion in the switch actuating linkage that results in rapid withdrawal of the blades Y|92 from engagement with the xed contacts |0| and eliminates the possibility of arcing and consequent damage to the switch upon opening theV motor circuit. lln Fig. 2 the switch is shown in closed position. Upon moving the handle |04 soas to rotate the shaft |05 in a counter-clock-wise direction the spring y|||l is extended without movement of the blades |02 until lost motion provided by the slots I I3 is taken up whereupon further movement of the shaft |05 causes the links |I2 to move and the switch blades to be withdrawn from engagement with the fixed-contacts. YA s soon as the switch blades have been withdrawn a suicient amount for thetensionof the spring ||4 to exceed the frictional resistance ofthe iiXed contacts I9I the vswitch moves quickly under action of the tensioned spring to an open position. Closure of the rswitch is accomplished by turning the handle |04 in a clockwise direction.

To provide for the safety of the machine operator so that the motor may not be started when the cover is in removed position, or the cover may not be removed while the motor is turned on, an inter-lock is provided which is effective between the motor switch and the cover.

As shown, rthe cross-bar 83 of the latch, upon passing .through the slot 92, is received within the notch/I I8 of a rotatable member I|1. The interengagement between'the cross bar 83 and member ||1 results in rotation of this member corresponding to movement of the cross bar between latched and unlatched positions. The actuated member I|`| carries the latch engaging member I I8 at one end, and at the opposite end. has a squared projection II9 upon which an arm |20 is attached. This armcarries a ball |2| which is received within the socket |22 of -an arm |23 fixed to a movable rod |24 that is Vsupported at |25 and |26 within the base I0.

Rotational vmovement 'of the latch between latched'and unlatched positions produces axial movement in the rod |24.

The rotatable shaft |05, to which the handle |04 is affixed, carries a cylindrical member |28 Ahaving a passage |29 perpendicularly related to the axis of rotation of the shaft |05. This passage I29 is so positioned that when the handle |04 is in the open circuit position of the switch the passage |29 becomes aligned with the rod |24 for lits entrance therein. In unlatched position ofk the cover the end I3| 'of the rod |24 projectsv within the passage of the member |28 so that the shaft |05 may not be rotated from open circuit position of the switch. The rod |24 can only be released from engagement with the member |28 by latching the cover in closed position and consequently the switch may only be closed after latchingr the cover which results in movement .of the rod to the position shown' in Fig. 9. Also, as the rod end I3I lies closely adjacent the Asurface of the'member |28 wheny ini latched position it is not possible to move the latch to unlatched position without first opening the switch so that the rod |24 may then enter the passage |29. Rotational movement of the shaft |05 and member |28 is limited by engagement of a pin |28 on the member |28 with spaced stop pins |32 on the machine base. Movement of the rod |24 too far away from the member |28 when the cover is latched is prevented by engagement of the hub portion |33 of the arm |23 and the'end |34 of the rod support |26. An effective interlock is thus provided which positively requires closure and locking of the cover before the switch may be closed,V and just as positively demands opening of the switch before the cover can be unlatched. vWhen the rod end I3I is in hole |29 of part |28 and switch is held in 01T position and the cover has been unlocked and raised toopen position, a spring loaded ball detent |36 is provided to engage a receiving notch |37 in rod |24 to prevent rod |24 from moving out of locking position due tojarring or tilting of the machine, as for example on shipboard. A second notch |38 is provided to receive the detent when rod |24 is in unlocked LTI rwhereinl food particles may collect.

position. lThe parts are thus` retained in proper operating positions, `and, rod |24 is restrained from movement except under the force of manual operation applied through the control handle 82.

A drive is provided on the motor for the attachment of auxiliary devices such as Shredders, grinders and other food treating appliances. As shown, a housing |49 is attached to the motor on the end of the housing opposite to the shaft extension I6. A driving connection |4| is provided between the motor shaft I4 and a worm shaft |42 which is suitably supported within the housing |4 by a bearing |43. The worm |42 meshes with a gear |45 which is mounted upon a shaft |46 carried in bearings |41. An extension |48 of the shaft |46 provides for driving engagement of devices which may be mounted upon the sleeve extension |49 of the housing |40.

All of the operating parts of the machine are enclosed to prevent improper operation or tampering. Further, the closure of machine parts has been completed to sucha degree that the machine may be readily maintained in a sanitary condition and there are no cornersY or crevices The motor housing iits closely onto the base in sucha manner that no food collecting pockets exist and in addition the motor housing serves as a closure for the belt drive which rotates' the bowl. The bowl is a close fit upon its supporting member and the entrance of food here is prevented by the inter-fitting flanges 2 and 29. Liquids that may iiow down over the exterior of the bowl are effectively prevented from reaching the bowl base by the provision of a downwardly depending flange |52 which encircles the bowl base and directs liquid iiow so as to cause it to drip away from the bowl base. Any food particles that might collect in the latch mechanism are permitted free passage to the exterior of the machine by making the latch receiving member |'i hollow as indicated at |53. The opening |53 of the latch member communicates with the passage |565 in the part 9| that leads to the exterior of the machine so that collected food particles may fall free of the machine rather than collect within the space occupied by the latch mechanism. The passage of food particles into the latch mechanism is restricted by terminating the latch receiving member a considerable distance above the bowl an-d by providing at this point an opening which is just large enough to receive the latch cross bar.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In food handling apparatus of the character described, a drive motor having a motor switch, a receptacle, a cover movable to closed position over said receptacle, a latch rotatably carried by said cover, said latch having a projecting end portion movable to latched or unlatched position, a fixed latch receiving member, said receiving member having an opening shaped to pass the projecting en-d portion of the latch when in unlatched position, and a latch actuated member, said actuated member having a notch for reception of said projecting end portion upon insertion through the receiving member for movement of the actuated member, and an interlock for said motor switch operated by movement of said actuated member.

2. In food handling apparatus of the character described, avfood treating knife, a motor driving said knife, a switch controlling the operation of said motor, a movable cover for said knife, a latch carried by said cover movable to a latched position to hold the cover in closed position over the knife, an interlock for said motor switch, a connection adapted to be effective between said latch and interlock when the cover is closed, and means for enclosing said connection to prevent any actuation of said switch except when said cover is closed, said latch being movable with said cover to open position when said connection is broken.

3. In food handling apparatus of the character described, a base, a food treating knife, a motor driving saidV knife, a switch controlling the operation of said motor, said switch comprising a movable member positioned in said base, a rod receiving portion on said movable member, a movable cover for said knife, a latch on said cover movable to latched position to hold the cover in closed position over the knife, means operated by movement of the latch to unlatched position to lock the switch in open circuit position, said meansV comprising a rod positioned in said base and axially movable to a position of engagement with the rod receiving portion of the switch member.

4. In food handling apparatus of the character described, a bowl adapted to receive foodstuffs, a movable cover for said bowl, control means carried by said movable cover, and socket means positioned for reception of said control means in cover closed position, said socket means having `an opening therethrough providing a drain passage for material entering the socket means.

5. In food handling apparatus of the character described, a base, a bowl rotatably mounted on the base having a food retaining channel concentric with the axis of rotation of the bowl, a fixed knife shaft supported independently of the bowl and extending above the bowl eccentrically of the axis thereof and above the said channel with the shaft spaced close above the rim of said bowl, a supporting member for the bowl rotatably mounted on the base, engagement lugs on the under side of the bowl, and an attaching flange on the supporting member adapted to releasably receive said lugs in interlocking engagement to rotate said bowl when said supporting member is rotated, said engagement lugs and said flange having an effective lateral extent coordinated with the spacing of the said shaft above the rim of the bowl and its eccentric spacing with respect to the axis of rotation of the bowl, such that the bowl may be moved to release the interlocking engagement of said lugs with said ange, then tilted to bring one portion of the lugs above the said attaching flange, followed by movement of the bowl sidewise from the apparatus, all without disturbing the position of said knife shaft.

6. In food handling apparatus of the character described, a base, a bowl rotatably mounted on the base having a food retaining channel concentric with the axis of rotation of the bowl, a xed knife shaft supported independently of the bowl and extending above the bowl eccentric of the axis thereof and above the said channel with the shaft spaced close above the rim of said bowl, a supporting member for the bowl rotatably mounted on the base, an upstanding interlocking engagement with the inwardly exdiameter vof said bowl but nevertheless of sufannular range on said supporting member adapted to' cooperate with the bottom of the bowl to prevent the ingress of water, meat juices, and the like, spaced inwardly extending lugs carried by said flange, a downwardly depending annular member carried by the bowl on the under side thereof and adapted to be received within said upstanding annular flange, spaced outwardly extending lugs carried by said downwardly depending annular member and adapted to cooperate in tending lugs on said flange, the effective diameters of said annular flange and the circumscribing circle ofv said bowl lugs being of Aa predetermined size not Amaterially greater than one half the cient extent to provide for tilting of the bowl abolita bowl lug on one side of the bowl so as to raise a bowl lug on the other side of the bowl above the said annular flange without objection'- able contact of the bowl rim with said fixed knife shaft, whereupon the bowl may be removed sidewise from the apparatus without disturbing the position of said knife shaft.

7. In food handling apparatus of the characv`ter described, a base, a bowl on said base adapted toreceive foodstuffs for treatment therein, a driving motor xedly mounted on said base and carrying a housing, an armature shaft extending from said housing on a fixed axis above said bowl,

aovaesr treating means', and a fixed driving connection between said' armature shaft and''said bowl rotating shaft, said driving connection being enclosedwithin said housing ,and base.

8. In food handling apparatus of the character described, a base, a bowl on said base adapted to receive foodstuffs for treatment therein, a driving motor fixedly mounted on said base including a motor housing, an armatureshaft extending from said housing on a fixed axis over; hanging said bowl, a food cutting knife mounted on the extended overhanging portion.V of said shaft and adapted to cut foodstuffs within said bowl, a shaft rotatably mounted and enclosed within said base, means providing Va, detachable driving connection between said bowl. andis'aid last mentioned shaft for rotating said bowl'andpermitting removal thereof without displacement of said armature shaft and treating means, a drive pulley on said armature shaft, a driven pulleyon said bowl rotating shaft, a flexible driving connection between said pulleys, said pulleys and said flexible driving connection being enclosed within said motor housing and base.

9. In food handling apparatus of the character described, a food ltreating knife, a motor driving said knife, a switch controlling the operation of said motor, and movable cover for said knife, a latch carried by said cover movable to a latched position to hold the cover in closed position over the knife, an interlock mechanism between said latch and said motor switch, means preventing actuation of said interlock mechanism except by said latch, said latch being movableV with said cover to positively prevent actuation of said switch when said cover is open.

DAVID A. MEEKER. JOHN C. SLAGER. 

